Rural Gone Urban: The Blog

As I mentally prepared for a week on the road (work-week in Hartland, Wisconsin; friend weekend on Grand Lake, Oklahoma) I told myself this was the week I would conquer suitcase living.

If I mentally prepared, pinned all the right pins and planned accordingly I could still make it to yoga 3-4 times, run on the treadmill and make good food choices. Try as I might when I’m on the road it’s like I push pause on real life.

I can’t run errands, run to the grocery store or clean the bathroom, so I’m basically on vacation, right?

Wrong.

I’m just really bad at living out of a suitcase. Just ask my yet-to-be-unpacked suitcase.

I suppose as long as you fill your week with adventures like visiting rural Wisconsin's The Kiltie, where you'll most definitely question the Steak Pizza, but devour a double cheeseburger you're doing okay.

Last spring while in the midst of a video shoot for National Gypsum's Ask for PURPLE campaign, one of my favorite Charlotteans—wine Wednesday advocate and all-around quality human—gave me a sneak peek at one of his fun projects. After a long, quiet day on set this gave me all the giggles.

Today, he shared the final product and I couldn't be more thrilled.

If you're keeper of children, particularly of boys, you need to hit play. Regardless of your children keeper status, hit play.

When I was riding the struggle bus in a job that wasn't quite my cup of tea, Rob made going to work a little brighter because he's one of the most creative minds I've ever worked with.

Where most people see things in black and white, he sees them in ROYGBIV. For real. It's superhuman.

I have wonderful news for my future nieces - the ones who will be born many, many years from now. I have successfully made two tutus in my life. The first one for a superhero costume and the other for last night's Halloween costume. Courtney and I couldn't disappoint the church group who comes to the little urban casa every Wednesday. We told them we'd dress up and I believe there were a few serious pinkie promises in the mix.

This side-by-side is a little creepy. Is that me as a child? Oh dear goodness. Courtney, the Rosie to my Sophia, was and is the perfect hype girl.

As a child I was about as annoying as they come. Always talking, always the center of attention and always talking a few octaves too high my parents had their hands full with me.

Clearly, it makes perfect sense I would fall in love with the little tutu-wearing rapper, Sophia Grace.

This may be the best costume of my life, and I once dressed up as a really awesome dinosaur.

They're just quite lovely.

Sigh. Could someone loan me their child? I'll teach them a few Nicki Manaj lyrics, put them in a tutu and send them right back.

Dallyn was gone for the weekend at a lovely bachelorette party. I'm sure it was just pillow fights, herbal tea and girl chat. [obviously.]
And that amazing man-friend of mine was at *boys weekend*. ::Read as: Obviously I'm an amazing girlfriend who deserves flowers (orchids or orange roses), or a date night (I'm dying to see the Backup Plan), or a graduation present due to the complete okay-ness of the only communication being a single text stating, "alive."

They had so much potential and they are completely retro. I loaded them up in the car and headed to Home Depot. One call to my Aunt Beth (Yeah, you're a blogging celebrity now) and I left with primer, a wire brush, and yellow paint. Who am I kidding - I also left with one of those nifty contraptions that allows you to not tire your finger or get paint on you. (Urban win)

Just look at that seat. Ew. I almost quit. But, I figured Clinique Exfoliant doesn't quit on me - so why quit on these chairs. They just need a little lovin'.

Two coats of primer - check. Thought about leaving them white, but then I got bored about 15 minutes later. Yellow it is.

Just look at those chairs! They look good. ("Yes Brooke, they look amazing!") Rural kicks Urban's butt once again.